. >> among the special guests sitting on the platform to hear that commitment, chad griffin, a strongma supporter and president of the human rights campaign. chad, take me back just 24 hours ago you were sitting on that platform. it was pretty cold. you heard the president first referencing stonewall, which is an iconic moment in the life of america. >> absolutely. >> in terms of gay rights. >> incredible. moving this movement for lgbt equality and putting it on the pedestal with other civil rights movements really is an incredible and historic moment. and i heard that and i just froze. i think like so many americans did with great pride in the tradition that we've had in this country of a constant movement towards equal protection under the law for all of our citizens. it was a phenomenal moment, and then he took it to the next step when he talked about our brother -- our gay brothers and sisters and treating them with equality and equal protection under the law, and it both had symbolic meaning around this country and around the world, but it also has policy implications in really m

chad griffin from the human rights campaign said the -- >> accept the apology. >> he has accepted the apology, as has hormel on his facebook page. you know, you mentioned that he is facing, you know, criticism from both the left and the right. >> yeah. >> how much do you think that stands in the way of a confirmation? >> you know, interestingly enough today you have a full page ad from log cabin republicans opposing chuck hagel for this very -- you have, again, on the right he is being attacked. the left is saying it's okay, we accept his apology. i mean, again, i just think in terms of the dynamics and the constituency groups along with, you know, the whole issues around israel, i mean, they're going to have to do their politics very well and be very smart. i certainly think we should expect to hear some pretty tough questions in the confirm's hearings about how he will handle don't ask don't tell, which is no longer in place, but that could be an area of vulnerability in terms of trying to check does he really mean what he said? does he really mean that apology? >> you saw barney fr

. >> here is a statement from a friend of mine chad griffin, president of the human being rights campaignof the largest gay rights groups. he was conciliatory after hagel apologized for ace-tie gay comments. he said his apology and statement of support for lgbt equality is appreciated and shows just how far as a country we've come from a former conservative senator from nebraska can have a change of heart on lgbt issues. there they are. talk about conciliation there, jim. the lgbt community and under the name there of the great organization human rights campaign are accepting him as an ally. let me get back to you. you're a student now as a reporter of media. you have always been a great reporter of media. now how media works into politics. are we seeing more of this subterfuge of this, apparent subterfuge? >> i think this is just the way it's going to be unless there's a new law, the disclose act in the senate that we're talking about that would make the donors have to step forward. if that doesn't happen, this is the way it's going to be done now definitely for the next few years. expec

enough to satisfy the human rights campaign and chad griffin. what is your position on this nomination at this point? >> well, i have to say unlike some of the folks you have been interviewing, i do not know chuck hagel. even though our service overlapped in the house and his in the senate, i plan to ask some tough questions to give a thorough review and to be fair but i do want to speak with him particularly about his comments 14 years ago to see if his apology is sincere and sufficient. i want to hear how he's evolved on this issue in the last 14 years because the significance to the post to which he's been nominated is the respect for now openly gay members of the military who, because of the repeal of don't ask don't tell, can serve openly and we need to see that implemented successfully, especially because the security of this nation is at stake in all of these regards. >> you are one of 20 women now in the senate from both parties and that is a high watermark. not good enough at least if we want to be representative as the population is bu

the human rights campaign, chad griffin, very close to this white house, has said that he appreciates the fact that hagel has apologized for what he said 14 years ago about ambassador harman. >> so let's see, head of the uso. fought for the updated g.i. bill after 9/11. as andrea mentioned, wounded in war and would be the first soldier to become secretary of defense. but yet bill kristol, editor of the conservative "weekly standard," said this. "his backers can cite no significant legislation for which hagel was responsible in his two terms in the senate. they can quote no memorable speeches that hagel delivered and can cite no profound passages from the book he authored. they can summarize no perceptive hagelian analysis of defense or foreign policy, and can appeal to no acts of management or leadership by the man they'd have as our next secretary of defense. a long and comprehensive account of american foreign and defense policy in the last 30 years would hardly note his existence." >> this is a battle between, you know, bill who obviously we know and like as well. he's from the neo